Disability Awareness Month
Booklist
October 2015
"My Disability is One Part of Who I Am."
Held each October, National Disability Awareness Month (NDAM) is a time to celebrate the
many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. The theme for this year —
which marks 70 years since the first observance — is "My Disability is One Part of Who I Am."
The Virginia General Assembly designated October as Disability History and Awareness Month
in Virginia because “Disability history, education and awareness will promote positive attitudes
in schools creating a culture of mutual respect, understanding and equal opportunities for all.”
The following is a selected list of books, videos and websites that will help you learn more
about all aspects of disability awareness. All books and videos are available at the Norfolk Public
Library, and databases websites may be viewed online at any of the public computer stations
located in the library or remotely from home.
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FICTION
The following selected fiction includes titles by award winning authors, recent best
sellers, novels that are acclaimed, or titles that provide important insight into the history of
Disabilities.
Alive Day
(Tom Sullivan) A blind psychologist tries to help an injured marine after serious
war injuries leave him severely depressed.
All the Light We Cannot See
(Anthony Doerr) Marie-Laure has been blind since the age of six. Her father builds
a perfect miniature of their Paris neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch
and navigate her way home. But when the Nazis invade, father and daughter flee
with a dangerous secret. Werner is a German orphan, destined to labor in the
same mine that claimed his father's life, until he discovers a knack for
engineering. His talent wins him a place at a brutal military academy, but his way
out of obscurity is built on suffering. At the same time, far away in a walled city by
the sea, an old man discovers new worlds without ever setting foot outside his
home. But all around him, impending danger closes in.
A Dog Named Christmas
(Greg Kincaid) Discovering that a local shelter is looking for temporary homes for their dogs
over the Christmas holidays, Todd, a developmentally challenged young man, persuades his
reluctant family to take in a special canine named Christmas.
The Echo Maker
(Richard Powers) On a remote road in Nebraska, 27-year-old Mark Schluter flips
his truck in a near fatal accident. His older sister, Karin returns reluctantly to their
hometown to nurse Mark back from a traumatic head injury. But when he
emerges from a protracted coma, Mark believes that this woman is really an
identical impostor.
Good Kings, Bad Kings
(Susan Nussbaum) Set in an institution for disabled juveniles, Susan Nussbaum
writes an unflinchingly honest story about the residents' mistreatment, the way
they forge friendships and love affairs, their ability to trust one another, and how
they ultimately fight back against their oppression.
Handle with Care: A Novel
(Jodi Picoult) Handle with Care explores the knotty tangle of medical ethics and
personal morality. When faced with the reality of a fetus who will be disabled,
should a parent have the right to consider termination? Bestselling author Picoult
explores a timely yet controversial issue in her latest novel.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
(Kim Edwards) It's 1964 and Dr David Henry finds himself delivering his wife's
twins. Relieved, he sees that his son is born healthy, but recognizes the signs of
Down's syndrome in his daughter's face. In a split-second decision that will haunt
their family forever, he asks the nurse to take his daughter away.
Of Human Bondage
(W. Somerset Maugham) From a tormented orphan with a clubfoot, Philip Carey
grows into an impressionable young man with a voracious appetite for adventure
and knowledge. His cravings take him to Paris at age eighteen to try his hand at
art, then back to London to study medicine. But even so, nothing can sate his
nagging hunger for experience. Then he falls obsessively in love, embarking on a
disastrous relationship that will change his life forever.
Of Mice and Men
(John Steinbeck) This is the tragic story of George and Lenny, migrant workers, and their
relationship; George as the caretaker of the retarded Lenny. The tragic ending occurs when
Lenny accidentally kills a farmer’s enticing daughter-in-law and George protects him in an
unusual way.
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Talk Talk
(T. C. Boyle) Deaf Dana Halter is falsely arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, auto theft,
and passing bad checks, while William Wilson has been living a blameless life of criminal excess
at her expense. Dana and her boyfriend Bridger set out to track him down.
NONFICTION
Americans with Disabilities Act
(Margaret C. Jasper) Focuses on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the
rights of the disabled under this Act. Also explored are the areas covered by the
ADA, specifically employment, transportation, public accommodations, State and
local government services, and telecommunications. For areas not covered by the
ADA, a review of other pertinent legislation is provided.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to your Military and Veterans Benefits
(Lawrence J. Webber) Identifies the benefits and compensations available to
United States military personnel, military veterans, and their families, and how to
secure those benefits.
A Disability History of the United States
(Kim Nielsen) Disability is not just the story of someone we love or the story of
whom we may become; rather it is undoubtedly the story of our nation. Covering
the entirety of US history from pre-1492 to the present, A Disability History of the
United States is the first book to place the experiences of people with disabilities
at the center of the American narrative. In many ways, it’s a familiar telling. In
other ways, however, it is a radical repositioning of U.S. history.
The Employer's Legal Handbook
(Fred S. Steingold) Includes topics covering hiring, personnel practices, wages and
hours, employee benefits, taxes, family and medical leave, health and safety,
illegal discrimination, workers with disabilities, termination, employee privacy,
independent contractors, unions and lawyers and legal research.
Estate Planning: For People with a Chronic Condition or Disability
(Martin M. Shenkman) Discusses all phases of estate planning for the chronically ill
and disabled including powers of attorney.
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Far from the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity
(Andrew Solomon) Most forms of identity within families are passed on from one
generation to the next, but less explored are 'horizontal identities', those shared
across communities between people with an uncommon trait. Andrew Solomon
spoke to 200 families to record their experience of topics including dwarfism,
deafness, transgender, prodigies, and more.
For Service to Your Country: The Insider's Guide to Veterans' Benefits
(Peter S. Gaytan)Filled with insider information, it steers you through the process so
that you and your family get the benefits in which you are entitled.
A Guide to Special Education Advocacy: What Parents, Clinicians, and Advocates
need to Know (Matt Cohen) Discusses disabilities, eligibility for services, the law, IEP and 504
plans and public school services, mediation and discipline and due process.
Haatchi and Little B
(Wendy Holden) "Owen--known to his family as 'Little Buddy' or 'Little B'--has a
rare genetic disorder that leaves him largely confined to a wheelchair. Before being
united with Haatchi, Little B was anxious and found it difficult to make friends.
Haatchi--an ... Anatolian Shepherd puppy--was abused and left for dead on railroad
tracks ... Kind-hearted Will and Colleen Howkins, Little B's father and stepmother,
decided to introduce the big dog and the little boy to each other, and an
unbelievable bond was formed that transformed both boy and dog in miraculous ways.
Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and its Aftermath
(Michael Paul Mason) Mason gives a series of vivid glimpses into brain science, the
last frontier of medicine, and explores fragility of the brain and the sense of self,
life, and order that resides there.
The Horse Boy: A Father's Quest to Heal his Son
(Rupert Isaacson) Describes the author's attempts to help his autistic son, Rowan, by taking the
family to a remote area of Mongolia in order to consult shamans and allow Rowan to interact
with horses and other animals in a quiet, accepting environment.
I am Potential: Eight Lessons on Living, Loving, and Reaching Your Dreams
(Patrick Henry Hughes) Profiles Patrick Henry Hughes, born without eyes and physically disabled
due to a rare genetic disorder who overcame many obstacles, focused on his musical talents,
and became a nationally recognized pianist and singer by the age of nineteen.
Love you to Pieces: Creative Writers on Raising a Child with Special Needs
(Suzanne Kamata) Essays, poems, and short stories on parenting disabled children.
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Making Self-Employment Work for People with Disabilities
(Cary Griffin and David Hammis) Offers a person- centered guide to business
planning, outlining the components of the process, and offering advice on
identifying strengths, setting goals, creating the plan, marketing, and financial
management.
No more Job Interviews: Self-Employment Strategies for People with Disabilities
(Alice Weiss Doyel) Covers resources available to all, such as the Small Business
Association, and explains resources designed specifically for people with disabilities.
Describes little-known opportunities for collaboration in growing a business that the
author has found in the for-profit and nonprofit worlds as well as the public sector.
Nolo's IEP Guide: Learning Disabilities
(Lawrence M. Siegel) An introduction to special education including your child's
rights under the IDEA, what is a learning disability, getting started, developing your
child's IEP: blueprint, evaluations, eligibility, gathering information and evidence,
goals, preparing for the IEP meeting, the IEP meeting, resolving IEP disputes
through: due process, filing a complaint, lawyers and legal research, and parent
organizations.
Putting Creativity to Work: Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities
(VSA Arts) Provides vocational guidance in the area of the arts to people with disabilities
Serve, Support, Simplify: Report of the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning
Wounded Warriors
This President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors (REF)
government document covers medicine, medical care and hospitals for returning vets.
Small Steps Forward: Using Games and Activities to Help your Pre-School Child with
Special Needs
(Sarah Newman) When young children are diagnosed with conditions such as
Down's syndrome, autism or other forms of developmental delay, there is much
that parents can do to help. This new edition includes up-to-date research and
practice, providing parents and careers with the information they need and a host
of ideas to encourage their child's development. The games and activities use toys
and materials which most children will already have, and involve no special preparation.
Uniquely Human : A Different Way of Seeing Autism
(Barry M. Prizant) One of the world's leading authorities on autism suggests a major
shift in understanding autism and offers inspiring stories and practical advice drawn
from his more than four-decade career.
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The War Comes Home: Washington's Battle Against America's Veterans
(Aaron Glantz) Covers the treatment of battled scared vets from Iraq and Afghanistan and their
plight including the understaffed Veterans Administration and the lack of care given to vets.
We will Not Quit and We Will Succeed: True Accounts and Experiences of a Family
Blessed with Twin Sons Born with Developmental Disabilities
(Janette Williams-Smith) It is with this love that parents Leroy and Janette Smith
join Special Forces in detecting services and resources that will benefit their twin
sons born prematurely, weighing 1 lb., 3 oz. and 1 lb., 4 oz., with developmental
disabilities. With a vow to never quit in their endeavors, We Will Not Quit and We
Will Succeed reveals true accounts and experiences of challenges faced and milestones
achieved by the Smith Family.
Wheelchair Warrior: Gangs, Disability, and Basketball
(Melvin Juette) The story of a former gang member who was paralyzed in a
shooting and how he discovered a new life through wheelchair basketball. Also
discusses the history of discrimination of those with handicaps.
Winning the Disability Challenge: A Practical Guide to Successful Living
(John F. Tholen) A guide for disabled workers offers counsel on how to regain and
protect one's independence and self-esteem, demystifying the complexities of
disability rights and resources while providing one hundred affirmations for staying
on track.
The Wounded Warrior Handbook: A Resource Guide for Returning Veterans
(Don Philpott) The typical wounded soldier must complete and file twenty-two
forms following an active-duty injury. For many soldiers and their families, coping
with the shock and reality of 8 the injuries, figuring out what to do next-even
completing tasks as seemingly easy as submitting paperwork can be overwhelming
and confusing.
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JUVENILE FICTION
The following selected fiction is to educate young people about disabilities through
contemporary novels by award winning authors, recent best sellers, novels that are acclaimed,
or titles that provide awareness of characters struggling to overcome challenges despite their
disabilities.
Al Capone Does My Shirts
(Gennifer Choldenko) A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in
1935 when Guards’ families were housed there, and has to contend with his
extraordinary new environment; in addition to life with his autistic sister.
Anything but Typical
(Nora Raleigh Baskin) Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a
writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.
Deaf Child Crossing
(Marlee Matlin) Megan is excited when Cindy moves into her neighborhood -- maybe
she'll finally have a best friend. Sure enough, the two girls quickly become
inseparable. Cindy even starts to learn sign language so they can communicate more
easily. But when they go away to summer camp together, problems arise. Cindy feels
left out, because Megan is spending all of her time with Lizzie, another deaf girl;
Megan resents that Cindy is always trying to help her, even when she doesn't need
help. Before they can mend their differences, both girls have to learn what it means
to be a friend.
The Deaf Musicians
(Pete Seeger) Poor Lee! He used to be a jazzman who could make the piano go
yimbatimba-TANG-zang-zang. But now he's lost his hearing, and the bandleader had
to let him go. So Lee goes to a school for the deaf to learn sign language. There, he
meets Max, who used to play the sax. Riding the subway to class, they start signing
about all the songs they love. A bass player named Rose joins in and soon they've got
a little sign language band. And in no time they're performing for audiences in the
subway, night after night.
El Deafo
(Cece Bell) Going to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school
and making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing aid strapped to your chest?
That requires superpowers! The Phonic Ear gives Cece the ability to hear—sometimes
things she shouldn’t—but also isolates her from her classmates. She really just wants
to fit in and find a true friend, someone who appreciates her as she is. After some
trouble, she is finally able to harness the power of the Phonic Ear and become “El
Deafo, Listener for All.” And more importantly, declare a place for herself in the world
and find the friend she’s longed for.
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The Girl Who Heard Colors
(Marie Harris) Imagine that when you hear a bell you see silver or when a dog barks
you see red. That’s what it’s like for Jillian when she hears sounds she sees colors. At
first the kids at school make fun of Jillian. Jillian worries about being different until her
music teacher shows her that having synesthesia is an amazing thing. This lively,
informative picture book makes synesthesia easy to understand and celebrates each
person’s unique way of experiencing the world.
My Three Best Friend and Me, Zulay
(Cari Best) Zulay and her three best friends are all in the same first grade class and
study the same things, even though Zulay is blind. When their teacher asks her
students what activity they want to do on Field Day, Zulay surprises everyone when
she says she wants to run a race. With the help of a special aide and the support of
her friends, Zulay does just that.
Ms. McCaw Learns to Draw
(Kaethe Zemach) Dudley Ellington struggles to learn anything at school, but when his
very 2 patient teacher, Ms. McCaw, is unable to draw a face on the board, he helps
her figure out how to do it.
Paperboy
(Vince Vawter) An 11-year-old boy living in Memphis in 1959 throws the meanest
fastball in town, but talking is a whole different ball game. He can barely say a word
without stuttering, not even his own name. So when he takes over his best friend's
paper route for the month of July, he knows he'll be forced to communicate with the
different customers, including a housewife who drinks too much and a retired
merchant marine who seems to know just about everything.
Rules 1st Edition
(Cynthia Lord) Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life, which is near
impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around
his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules from a peach is not a
funny-looking apple to keep your pants on in public in order to stop his embarrassing
behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a paraplegic boy, and Kristi, the
next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns
everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?
Secret Garden
(Frances Hodgson Burnett) Ten-year-old orphan Mary Lennox comes to live in a lonely
house on the Yorkshire moors and discovers an invalid cousin and the mysteries of a
locked garden.
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Susan Laughs
(Jeanne Willis) Susan laughs, she sings, she rides, she swings. She gets angry, she gets
sad, she is good, she is bad. In fact, Susan is no different from any other child. This
book explores, with warmth and insight an important issue that is relevant to us all.
Wodney Wat's Wobot
(Helen Lester) When Wodney Wat, who cannot pronounce the letter R, gets a talking
robot for his birthday, it turns out to be more than just a fun gift.
Wonder
(R. J. Palacio) Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and
was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to dealing with the
daily struggles of being in fifth grade at a private middle school
JUVENILE NONFICTION
The following list of selected nonfiction is to educate young people about Disabilities by award
winning authors, recent best sellers, or titles that provide important insight and awareness of
Disabilities.
A Boy and a Jaguar
(Alan Rabinowitz) The renowned cat conservationist reflects on his early childhood
struggles with a speech disorder, describing how he only spoke fluently when he was
communicating with animals and how he resolved at a young age to find his voice to
be their advocate.
Don’t Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability
(Pat Thomas) This delightful picture book explores questions and concerns about
disability in a simple and reassuring way. Younger children can find out what a
disability is, and learn how people deal with their disabilities to live happy and full
lives. Written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas. These superb
information books promote interaction among children, parents, and teachers on
personal, social, and emotional issues.
Extraordinary Friends
(Fred Rogers) How do you get to know someone in a wheelchair? Sometimes it's
hard to know where to begin. In his characteristically wise and gentle way, Mister
Rogers challenges the stereotypes that often plague children with special needs and
celebrates six children who are extraordinary friends.
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Helen Keller
(Various authors) Focuses on the early life of a woman who is well known for
overcoming her handicaps of being both blind and deaf.
Some Kids have Autism
(Martha E.H. Rustad) Describes what autism is, its symptoms, and some of the
everyday activities of children who have it.
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippen
(Jennifer Bryant) This Orbis Award-winning book tells the inspiring story of Horace
Pippin, a self-taught African American artist. The book chronicles Pippin's life from
his birth and childhood, through his service and injury during World War II, and his
eventual fame as an artist. Melissa Sweet's vivid illustrations add much beauty to
this book.
Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome
(Clarabelle van Niekerk) A young boy named Sam, has difficulty at school and seems
moody at home. When Sam is diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger
syndrome, his family and teachers understand him better and learn how to help him
succeed. Includes tips for parents, teachers and children on being with children who
have Asperger's.
We Can Do It!
(Laura Dwight) Depicts children living with spina bifida, Down syndrome, cerebral
palsy, or blindness with the help of family and friends. Five special children show
what they can do.
Young Adult Fiction
The following selected fiction is to provide awareness to young people about disabilities
through contemporary and historical fiction novels by award winning authors, recent best
sellers, novels that are acclaimed, or titles that provide important insight regarding disabilities.
The Crazy Horse Electric Game
(Chris Crutcher) A high school athlete, frustrated at being handicapped after an
accident, runs away from home and is helped back to mental and physical health by
a black benefactor and the people in a special school where he enrolls.
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
(Mark Haddon) Despite his overwhelming fear of interacting with people,
Christopher, a mathematically-gifted, autistic fifteen-year-old boy, decides to
investigate the murder of a neighbor's dog and uncovers secret information about his
mother.
Falling Boy
(Alison McGhee) A 17 year-old boy whose legs are paralyzed learns lessons about life
while working in a bakery.
Freak the Mighty
(Rodman Philbrick) Maxwell is bullied because of his mental slowness and enormous
size. Freak is smart, quirky and funny but he suffers from a rare genetic condition,
which inhibits the growth of his body. Yet the combination of Freak and Maxwell is
formidable.
Girls Like Us
(Gail Giles) Graduating from their school's special education program, Quincy and
Biddy are placed together in their first independent apartment and discover
unexpected things they have in common in the face of past challenges and a
harrowing trauma.
I Funny: A Middle School Story
(James Patterson) Hoping to become a stand-up comedian despite being a
wheelchair-bound middle school student, Jamie Grimm endures bullying from his
mean-spirited cousin and hopes he will be fairly judged when he enters a local
comedy contest.
Marcelo in the Real World
(Francisco X. Stork) Marcelo Sandoval, a seventeen-year-old boy on the highfunctioning end of the autistic spectrum, faces new challenges, including romance
and injustice, when he goes to work for his father in the mailroom of a corporate law
firm.
Mason
(Thomas Pendleton) When a sadistic high school student tries to cover up a murder
by brutally beating an innocent girl, his mentally-challenged but psychically-gifted
brother, Mason, uses his powers to bring about justice in their sleepy Louisiana town.
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Stuck in Neutral
(Terry Trueman) Shawn McDaniel is clever, sensitive and witty - and unable to
express himself in any way. Because of severe cerebral palsy he is physically
helpless and utterly dependent. His world is fascinating and terrifying, hilarious and
devastating - and completely unforgettable.
Tangerine
(Edward Bloor) Paul Fisher¹s older brother has always been the football-playing hero
of the family. But when the Fishers move to Tangerine, Florida, Paul enters a place
where weird is normal. And suddenly the blind can see. This book is a winner of
multiple awards.
YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION
The following list of selected nonfiction is to educate young adult people about Disabilities by
award winning authors, recent best sellers, or titles that provide important insight
and awareness of Disabilities.
Does Everyone have ADHD? A Teen's Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment
(Christine Petersen) Explores the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for the
various forms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and discusses how those
affected can learn to cope with symptoms to survive and thrive in school, work,
and family settings.
Growing Up on the Spectrum: A Guide to Life, Love, and Learning for Teens and
Young Adults with Autism and Asperger's
(Lynn Kern) Renowned autism expert collaborates with a parent of an autistic
teenager in this guide to helping teens with autism. Addressing issues from a
changing body to how to succeed in college, this inspiring volume offers hope and
wisdom for parents, therapists, and educators.
The Reason I Jump
(Naoki Higashida) A rare and important insight into the mind of an autistic child, in
his own words. Translated by and with a moving introduction from the awardwinning author of CLOUD ATLAS, David Mitchell.
Teens with Disabilities
(Gail B. Stewart) Chronicles four teens living with disabilities and the difficulties they
experience on a daily basis.
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DVD
The following selected films are to provide important awareness of disabilities through fictional
accounts or documentaries. Be aware that some movies may be criticized for exaggerating
certain characteristics to tell a story or use non-disabled actors to portray characters with
disabilities.
Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq
(HBO Documentary Films) A look at the physical and emotional cost of war through
soldiers' memories of their alive day, the day they narrowly escaped death in Iraq.
Actor James Gandolfini interviews ten soldiers about their memories, their feelings
on their future, and more.
Autism Is a World
(CNN Productions) Sue Rubin, who is autistic, was diagnosed and treated as mentally
retarded until the age of 13, when she began to communicate using a keyboard. She
is now a junior in college. This documentary takes the viewer on a journey into her
mind, her daily world, and her life with autism.
Autism: the Musical
(Bunim-Murray film) Follow the extraordinary acting coach and founder of the
Miracle Project musical theater program Elaine Hall, five autistic children, and their
parents as they improbably, heroically mount a full-length original stage production
and learn to communicate their feelings in song and performance.
A Beautiful Mind
(Universal Pictures/Dreamworks) From the heights of notoriety to the depths of
depravity, John Forbes Nash, Jr. experienced it all. A mathematical genius, he made
an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international
acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a painful and
harrowing journey of self-discovery. After many years of struggle, he eventually
triumphed over his tragedy, and finally - late in life - received the Nobel Prize.
Best Boy: Best Man
(The Association for the Help of Retarded Children) Philly Wohl is a cheerful and
lovable 52 year old who's been mentally handicapped since birth and still lives with
his parents. When his cousin, filmmaker Ira Wohl, questions what will happen to
Philly once his elderly parents can no longer care for him, the family embarks on a
mission to help Philly become more independent.
Born on the 4th of July
(Universal Pictures) Based on the true story of Ron Kovic, a young man who
volunteered for the Vietnam War, was wounded, and returned paralyzed from the
mid-chest down. He later became a new voice for those disenchanted with the war.
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A Commitment to Care
(Norfolk Community Services Board) Information about care for the mentally handicapped and
disabled.
FDR, A Presidency Revealed
(David C. Taylor) A comprehensive original program from the History Channel,
featuring exclusive interviews, rare audio recordings, newly-unearthed home
movies, and diary entries, that reveals a never-before-seen side of FDR's presidency.
Her Name is Sabine
(Sandrine Bonnaire) An intelligent, moving and beautiful portrait of Sabine, a 38year-old autistic woman, filmed by her sister, the famous French actress Sandrine
Bonnaire.
Men of Honor
(Twentieth Century Fox) The story of Carl Brashear, the first African American, then
also the first amputee, US Navy Diver and the man who trained him.
My Brother
(CodeBlack Entertainment) An inner city New York story of two impoverished boys,
one of whom is developmentally disabled and the bond of love they share. Forged
in their youth by their mother, and made under life's most desperate of
circumstances, this bond is unwavering, even in the face of adversity.
My Left Foot
(Lionsgate) The story of Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy. He learned to paint
and write with his only controllable limb - his left foot.
Never Been Done: The Jon Comer Story
(Airwalk Productions) Chronicles the life and times of Jon Comer, the first
professional skateboarder with a prosthetic leg, and how he overcame losing a leg
as a young boy and went on to realize a dream that no one had ever accomplished
before.
Rain Man
(United Artists) Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt's father left a fortune to his savant
brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country.
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Ray
(Universal Pictures) The story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and
blues musician Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went
blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s.
Refrigerator Mothers
(David E. Simpson) From the 1950s through the early 1970s, the American medical
establishment thought it had found the cause of autism: poor mothering. Doctors
presumed that the bizarre behaviors of autistic children-rigid rituals, difficulty with
speech, extreme self-isolation - stemmed from their mothers' emotional frigidity. We
now know that autism is a brain disorder, not the result of poor parenting. But for a
whole generation of women branded as cold refrigerator mothers, the damage had
already been done.
Scent of a Woman
(Universal Pictures) A prep school student needing money agrees to "babysit" a blind
man, but the job is not at all what he anticipated.
Databases
Databases are subscription resources that contain reliable, timely, and authoritative
online sources of information. Links to these are found on the Library’s Webpage at
<www.norfolkpubliclibrary.org/research/databases> under Databases. Use your Norfolk
Public Library card number for access to these resources:
Educational Resources:
INFOTRAC Junior Edition
This periodical database is designed for students in junior high and middle school, with
magazines, newspapers and reference books (most are full-text) for information on current
events, the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports and
more.
INFOTRAC Student Edition
This database is designed for high school students, with access to a variety of indexed and fulltext magazines, newspapers and reference books for information on current events, the arts,
science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports and more.
Kids Infobits
Kids InfoBits meets the research needs of students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. It features
a developmentally appropriate, visually graphic interface, a subject-based topic tree search and
full-text, age-appropriate, curriculum-related magazine, newspaper and reference content for
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information on current events, the arts, science, health, people, government, history, sports
and more.
Gale General Reference
A general interest database that integrates a variety of sources in one easy-to-use interface.
Use Gale General Reference to find articles from newspapers, reference books, and periodicals,
many with full-text and images. Find the latest current events, popular culture, business and
industry coverage, the arts and sciences, sports, hobbies, and more.
General One File
A one-stop source for news and periodical articles on a wide range of topics: business,
computers, current events, economics, education, environmental issues, health care, hobbies,
humanities, law, literature and art, politics, science, social science, sports, technology, and
many general interest topics. Millions of full-text articles, many with images. Updated daily
ERIC
ERIC (Education Resources Information Center). The ERIC database (1966-July 2004) contains
1.1 million bibliographic citations to a broad collection of education-related resources. ERIC also
provides users with online access to the full-text of approximately 107,000 ERIC documents
(published in 2003 or earlier, and indexed January 1993 - July 2004) in PDF image format.
Health and Medicine:
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Health and Wellness Resource Center
Includes magazines, journals, newspapers, definitions, directories, and information on: Fitness,
Pregnancy, Medicine, Nutrition, Diseases, Public Health, Occupational Health and Safety,
Alcohol and Drug abuse, Prescription Drugs, Herbal remedies, and alternative or
complementary treatments. Material is intended for informational purposes only.
Medline Plus
Suggested starting point for consumer health information. This site is a service of the National
Library of Medicine. It contains detailed information on conditions, diseases and wellness, drug
information, dictionaries, and directories plus a medical encyclopedia. Access is free.
Websites
American Association of People with Disabilities
www.aapd.com
The American Association of People with Disabilities is the nation's largest disability rights
organization. We promote equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and
political participation for people with disabilities. Our members, including people with
disabilities and our family, friends, and supporters, represent a powerful force for change
ADA.gov Homepage
www.ada.gov
Provides information and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
HealthCare.gov Homepage
www.healthcare.gov
Official site of the Health Insurance Marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act.
The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes
https://saluteheroes.org
Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (CSAH) is to help severely-wounded veterans and families
of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn recover
from their injuries and illnesses, and to inspire other organizations and the general public to
participate in this effort.
Partnership for People with Disabilities
www.partnership.vcu.edu
Partnership for People with Disabilities, formerly known as the Virginia Institute for
Developmental Disabilities (VIDD), is a university center for excellence in developmental
disabilities. Located at Virginia Commonwealth University, it is home to more than 20 federal
and state programs, staffed by more than 80 professionals, family members, people with
disabilities, and university students supporting individuals with disabilities and their families.
The Center for Parent Information and Resources
www.parentcenterhub.org
The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) serves as a central resource of
information and products to the community of Parent Training Information (PTI) Centers and
the Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs), so that they can focus their efforts on serving
families of children with disabilities.
Social Security Benefits for Children with Disabilities Booklet
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10026.pdf
This booklet is for the parents, caregivers, or representatives of children younger than age 18
who have disabilities that might make them eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
payments. It is also for adults who became disabled in childhood (prior to age 22), and who
might be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. (We call this SSDI
benefit a “child’s” benefit because it’s paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record.)
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
www.va.gov
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides patient care and federal benefits to veterans
and their dependents.
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United States Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
www.dol.gov/odep
Employment opportunities for the disabled and sponsor of National Disability Employment
Awareness Month.
Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services
www.dbhds.virginia.gov
Virginia’s public mental health, intellectual disability and substance abuse services system is
comprised of 16 state facilities and 40 locally-run community services boards. The CSBs and
facilities serve children and adults who have or who are at risk of mental illness, serious
emotional disturbance, intellectual disabilities, or substance abuse disorders.
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Norfolk Public Library
(757) 664-READ
www.norfolkpubliclibrary.org